Stephon Gilmore remains a question for Patriots

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Coach Bill Belichick was asked a day after the New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 8 if the decision to sit cornerback Stephon Gilmore for a third straight game was a medical or coaching one.

Belichick indicated it was a medical decision. He pointed out Gilmore, who has seriously struggled this season, was listed on the injury report with a concussion and an ankle issue, and had been a partial participant at all three practices prior to facing the Chargers.

Stephon Gilmore

“I think when he’s ready and able to play, and able to do everything, then I’m sure he’ll be able to help us,” Belichick said. “We’re working towards that point. We’re getting closer and we’ll see when we get there.”

It would seem Gilmore has arrived “there.”

The Patriots returned to work Monday after getting the previous four days off during their bye week and Gilmore noted, “I feel good” physically. Did that mean he would be good to go Sunday night when the Patriots face the Broncos in Denver?

“Yes sir,” the soft-spoken Gilmore said without hesitation.

Perhaps sensing honesty isn’t always the best public policy with the clandestine Patriots, he later hedged his availability in a second interview, noting, “Just trying to take it day to day. It’s a process.”

That goes for adjusting, learning and performing as well as healing.

The Patriots signed Gilmore to a five-year, $65 million deal on the first day of free agency in March. The transition from Buffalo, where he spent his first five seasons, to New England hasn’t gone smoothly.

Gilmore bottomed out when he was benched in favor of Eric Rowe at halftime against the Carolina Panthers in Week 3. But Rowe suffered a groin injury on the first play of the third quarter and Gilmore was back.

It didn’t end well.

Gilmore was penalized for illegal use of the hands with just over two minutes left in a tie game. The penalty negated an 11-yard sack by Deatrich Wise Jr. on third down and gave the Panthers a first down.

The Panthers took advantage and continued a drive that ended with a 48-yard field goal by Graham Gano as time expired to depart Foxborough with a 33-30 victory.

All told, Gilmore has a team-high four defensive penalties even though he’s only played five games. He has one interception – it was gift wrapped – and an additional pass defensed.

Not numbers to be expected of a player with the third-highest base salary on the team.

With few options, the Patriots started Gilmore four days later in a 19-14 road victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Despite dealing with an ankle injury, he responded with his finest effort as a Patriot, making five solo tackles and bottling up receiver Mike Evans, who was a second-team All-Pro last season.

“I feel like I got better and better every game, probably like everybody,” Gilmore said. “I felt comfortable that game, getting better and better, so just got to prepare like I was doing.”

But Gilmore was a surprise scratch against the New York Jets the following game due to a concussion.

He hadn’t been listed on the injury report with a head injury that week and had been a full participant in practice two days before the comeback victory against the Jets.

While Gilmore hasn’t played since Oct. 5, he’s tried to prepare as if he would.

“I’ve still been locking in, just trying to study and going over the game plan like I’m playing,” Gilmore said. “So it’s good. I’m able to see how the guys played and go from there.”

What the guys on defense have done is play better with Gilmore out and Johnson Bademosi in. Bademosi isn’t as talented a cornerback but competes harder.

The Patriots have allowed an average of 12.3 points in the three games Bademosi has started. It was 28.4 in Gilmore’s five starts.

“Every game we’ve gotten better and the more games we play we’ll get even better,” Gilmore said.

Gilmore may very well be good to go against the Broncos. How good the Patriots feel about using him remains to be seen.

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